East Syracuse sets hearings on proposal to abolish its village police force

An informational hearing on the proposal to eliminate the East Syracuse village police force and replace it with coverage from DeWitt police has been set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at St. Matthew’s School in East Syracuse.

Officials from East Syracuse and DeWitt will be there to explain the proposal and answer questions from the public about specific details.

In addition, a formal public hearing on the proposed local law to abolish the village police force is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at the East Syracuse municipal building. At 6:30 p.m. the village board will vote on whether or not to pass a local law abolishing the village police force, which is the required first step in the process.

The board would then vote on a second resolution to allow the village to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with DeWitt for police coverage.

The law abolishing the police force is subject to a permissive referendum, but village officials plan to go ahead with a referendum, which will allow East Syracuse voters to have the final say. That vote is tentatively set for Oct. 16, said village clerk Patricia Derby.

Officials have been discussing what’s known as a shared-services contract, which would stipulate exactly how the agreement would work and what level of service/coverage would be provided by DeWitt police.

East Syracuse Mayor Danny Liedka has said costs, particularly for pensions and health insurance, make the police department too expensive to operate. Some East Syracuse residents, however, are opposed to eliminating the force.

The village police department employs six full-time and eight part-time members.